WHEREAS, play is a critical part of healthy childhood development, promoting physical activity, creativity, resilience, mental wellness, and social connection; and

WHEREAS, outdoor play encourages children to build friendships, explore nature, develop problem-solving skills, and foster a sense of community belonging; and

WHEREAS, play provides parents with a window into their children’s world, fosters more effective communication, supports the safe exploration of thoughts and emotions, and offers an opportunity to provide nurturing guidance; and

WHEREAS, playing with children also benefits adults, as positive parenting activities, such as play and shared reading, can reduce stress and strengthen the parent-child relationship; and

WHEREAS, only 24% of children aged 6 to 17 meet the CDC’s recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity, contributing to a national childhood obesity rate of 19.7%; and

WHEREAS, over 51% of U.S. adolescents report spending more than 4 hours per day on social media, and 96% of teens report using popular social media sites daily; and

WHEREAS, excessive screen time has been linked to increased levels of anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues in youth; and studies show that children who spend more than two hours a day on screens are twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression compared to their peers who engage in less screen time; and

WHEREAS, outdoor play has been shown to support mental wellness while reducing stress, loneliness, and attention difficulties, and is associated with a 55% reduced risk of developing mental health challenges when children engage in daily nature-based play; and

WHEREAS, unstructured, screen-free play fosters creativity, confidence, competence, and problem-solving, and is associated with better academic performance and stronger emotional regulation; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth’s Reclaiming Childhood Initiative is a statewide effort to restore play, imagination, and connection in the lives of Virginia’s children by encouraging screen-free childhoods, cultivating community engagement, and supporting environments where all children can thrive; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia recognizes the importance of providing children and families with opportunities to engage in joyful, active, and imaginative play in their neighborhoods, schools, libraries, parks, and community spaces; and

WHEREAS, the Day of Play encourages all Virginians—parents, educators, businesses, houses of worship, civic organizations, and local governments—to come together to promote healthy childhoods by celebrating the power of play;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize August 9, 2025, as a DAY OF PLAY in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all of our citizens, encouraging communities across the Commonwealth to host outdoor celebrations that inspire fun, connection, and the reclaiming of childhood through play.